Regina Basso Zanon

Identificação dos primeiros sintomas do autismo pelos pais

The occurrence of problems related to social development is the best predictors of a future diagnosis of an Autistic Disorder. Speech delay, however, seems to be the main that reason that leads parents to seek assistance. The present study aimed to investigate the first symptoms observed by the parents of children with autism and the age that it occurred. Thirty-two preschool children participated in the study. The instrument used was the Autism Diagnostic Interviwed-Revised. Abnormalities in language development were the most frequent symptoms reported by the parents, but social impairment was the earliest that was noticed. The average age when the parents noticed the first symptoms was 15.2 months. The results corroborate other findings, highlighting the importance of social deficits for the early identification of autism.

Improvement in Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children With the Use of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide: An Open Trial.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. MethodsThis is a prospective, open-label study with 160 pmol/kg of GRP tested in 10 children with autism. Outcome measures used were the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale, Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. Positive response was defined as a score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale and an improvement of 25% or greater on at least 1 subscale of ABC. ResultsSix (60%) of the 10 subjects responded to GRP. Improvements were observed on the ABC irritability and hyperactivity subscales in 80% of patients, and 70% exhibited improvement on the social withdrawal subscale. On the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, there was a mean reduction of 4 points (4.3 ± 2.9). Analysis of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised results detected significant improvements in the domain that assesses social interaction, with a mean reduction of 2.4 points (2.4 ± 2.83). Adverse effects occurred in 3 patients. ConclusionsGastrin-releasing peptide was safe and well tolerated by most subjects and may be effective for core symptoms of autism.

Comportamentos de Crianças do Espectro do Autismo com seus Pares no Contexto de Educação Musical

The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in the areas of social interaction, communication, behavior and sensory processing. Aspects related to difficulties in social interaction repertoire, as well as strategies to help them behave more adequately have been widely studied. Among these strategies, those using music have received attention. The present study aims to investigate the benefits of music education to the social interaction of children with ASD, with their peers, focusing on both the quality and frequency of these behaviors. Two ASD children, aged 5 and 6 years respectively, who attended a percussion class group, participated in the study. The Demographics and Development information enabled the children´s profiles to be drawn. The social interaction behaviors were coded using a Behavioral Observation Protocol during 8 sessions (240 minutes). The results suggest that both tended to increase initiatives and spontaneous responses and to decrease non-functional behaviors as the sessions progressed. It was found that stereotypies were used by the ASD children when attempting to interact with others, albeit sporadically. The role of context, of the childrens profile and of adult behavioral management of children in promoting interactions was highlighted.

A relação entre regressão da linguagem e desenvolvimento sociocomunicativo de crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between language regression and the subsequent social-communicative development of preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). METHODS Thirty children with ASD participated in the study and were divided into two groups: with (n=6) and without (n=24) language regression. Language regression was assessed by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and the social-communicative development was measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. RESULTS Of the 30 children who met the criteria for participation in this study, six (20%) had regression of oral language skills, with a mean age of onset of 25 months. There were no statistical significant differences in the social-communicative development between the groups with and without language regression. CONCLUSION The findings of this research do not seem to confirm the relationship between the occurrence of language regression and the subsequent impairment on social-communicative development of children with ASD.

Brazilian study of adaptation and psychometric properties of the Coping Health Inventory for Parents

The Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP) evaluates coping patterns of parents of chronically ill children and assesses different coping strategies using three subscales. This study aimed to translate and transculturally adapt the CHIP for a Brazilian sample and investigate the preliminary psychometrics of the scale. Rating scale Rasch analysis was performed on CHIP responses, and the psychometric performance of each of the three subscales was tested. Two hundred twenty parents of individuals with health problems participated in the study, answering a sociodemographic questionnaire—the Brazilian version of the CHIP—and Folkman and Lazarus’s coping questionnaire. All items exhibited good fit to the measurement model, although response categories were not used as intended and little variability on person parameter estimates was obtained. These preliminary results suggested that each construct being measured by the three subscales should be treated separately, corroborating the theoretical model of the original instrument. Suggestions to address the psychometric limitations of the instrument were made in order to improve measurement precision.

Relação entre Apego e Obesidade: Revisão Sistemática da Literatura

Besides inappropriate diet and lack of physical activity, psychological factors may be involved in the etiology of obesity, including the inability to control emotions that arise at stressful moments. In this case, eating becomes a way to cope with negative feelings. This study aimed to investigate the association between attachment and obesity through a systematic literature review, carried out in July 2014, with no time limitation, in the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and LILACS. Sixteen articles were included in this study and all of them mentioned the relationship between insecure attachment and obesity. Attachment Theory seems to be a particularly useful approach in the understanding of emotional eating and obesity.